"I find myself incredibly fascinating and this blog bears witness to that simple fact. Friends, from far and wide, are often pestered to keep abreast of my life and opinions. I offer sincere greetings to guests who stumble here by accident too."
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Tuesday, September 09, 2008
How're You, Today?
On any given day there are literally dozens of things I consider blogging about. Most get forgotten well before I get to the keyboard. Today, I think I might add something about a shopping experience.
I walked uptown to the London Drugs. If you're not from around here, you might not know that name. In other locations they might be similar to a Walgreen's or CVS Pharmacy but have successfully ventured into photographic, electronics, appliances, and even furniture sales. Walking up the hill is quite a task but I was pleased to find that their self-administered blood pressure machine showed 118 / 69. Good for me.
The reason for this is not so much as to talk about the company but my very pleasant experience with one cashier today. She was nice and genuinely asked each customer how they were. The amazing part is she listened to the answers. She helped the elderly lady with the cane with helpful banter and a smile that wasn't just for appearance sake. I didn't think to actually take a mental note of her name tag, or I would be more than happy to share it with the world.
If one is going to be facing customers, one might as well take on the role with gusto. I waited on tables when in college. I always considered the role as an actor would. With a few people one could actually feel a connection of sorts that made the experience pleasurable. I can understand that for many, customer service jobs might not be what they desire. Still, if I had to be there for hours, I'd want to suck it up and make it a little fun.
I knew British expats from work in the Middle East who'd often spend their holidays in North America. They said it was fairly cheap to rent a car for weeks and travel around. What kept them coming back, they said, was how waitresses, hotel clerks, and even gas station attendants seemed to honestly enjoy the jobs they did. After a few days spent in the Slovak Republic last year, I also can understand the opposite too!
Anyway, although I don't know her name, just thinking about the lady on register 3 still makes me smile. I wish I could thank her for just being my cashier today.
Labels: errands, New Westminster, opinions, Q3_2008
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Columbia Pictures
If you look at a map of BC's Lower Mainland, you'll find New Westminster smack dap in the middle. The city's not very big. Once upon a time, people would come from far and wide to shop downtown New West. Then from the 1960's everybody's focus moved uptown. Given the elevation, downtown really is down. After decades of neglect it nearly become economically out as well. It was just a busy route on which commuters sped past.
The central street is called Columbia. When we moved here in 1996, it was a bit seedy and run down even though they'd been trying to revitalize it for years. Over the last decade and especially the last five years, lots of new development has started taking place along Columbia Street. As recently as this summer, municipal road crews have turned the street back to two lanes with back-in parking. A bike path has been added and sidewalks near corners have been widened.
As a downtown resident, I often walk outside and have snapped quite a few photos. I have arranged them from the most recent taken today back to August 2005. To see a slide show containing nearly 150 photos along Columbia Street just click. (It may take up to thirty seconds to load the data.)
The central street is called Columbia. When we moved here in 1996, it was a bit seedy and run down even though they'd been trying to revitalize it for years. Over the last decade and especially the last five years, lots of new development has started taking place along Columbia Street. As recently as this summer, municipal road crews have turned the street back to two lanes with back-in parking. A bike path has been added and sidewalks near corners have been widened.
As a downtown resident, I often walk outside and have snapped quite a few photos. I have arranged them from the most recent taken today back to August 2005. To see a slide show containing nearly 150 photos along Columbia Street just click. (It may take up to thirty seconds to load the data.)
Labels: Columbia Street, Flickr, New Westminster, Q3_2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Being a Street Walker
In life, we can so easily slip into a rut. I suppose, but I'm not exactly sure, that means the same as when people say humans are creatures of habit. I was considering the fleeting shortness of life because of the recent anniversary of living in New Westminster, BC for twelve years.
After a dozen years, I would most definitely consider this home. Strangely, I don't feel like an expert. Even if one had always lived in the same spot on the earth, I suppose they're really not experts. Nobody can be. Things change. One's view of the place they are is unique for many reasons.
Most strikingly, I was considering what a small percentage of my city, I actually visit. There are streets within a mile of the apartment on which my feet have never traversed. When out of the house, it is quite amazing how few paths one generally takes. The way to work, the road to shopping, the street for the errands are where I usually go.
Well, digital photography as a hobby does get me off my beaten paths. Luckily, New Westminster, BC is a tiny little city. The total land area is 15.3 square kilometers, so I'm promising to take a better effort to look at it from every angle. Today, I went to the Queensborough boardwalk along Fraser River. It's part of the Port Royal residential developments that are continuing to change the entire east end of Lulu island.
After a dozen years, I would most definitely consider this home. Strangely, I don't feel like an expert. Even if one had always lived in the same spot on the earth, I suppose they're really not experts. Nobody can be. Things change. One's view of the place they are is unique for many reasons.
Most strikingly, I was considering what a small percentage of my city, I actually visit. There are streets within a mile of the apartment on which my feet have never traversed. When out of the house, it is quite amazing how few paths one generally takes. The way to work, the road to shopping, the street for the errands are where I usually go.
Well, digital photography as a hobby does get me off my beaten paths. Luckily, New Westminster, BC is a tiny little city. The total land area is 15.3 square kilometers, so I'm promising to take a better effort to look at it from every angle. Today, I went to the Queensborough boardwalk along Fraser River. It's part of the Port Royal residential developments that are continuing to change the entire east end of Lulu island.
Labels: digital camera, feelings, Fraser River, New Westminster, Q3_2008
Sunday, August 17, 2008
6th and Carnarvon: 1922 and 2008
Last month, I matched up an old photo of Columbia Street with a newly-shot digital image. It was surprisingly easy. I thought that as a little hobby, I'd occasionally try other images around my adopted city of New Westminster, BC. Although by no means ancient, this town has been here since the advent of common photography.
I tried walking to a very near intersection to have another go at this. I found it a bit hard to make the two images match. Of course, eighty-six years ago there was a different building at the NE corner of 6th and Carnarvon. In addition, in the original photo there was a telephone poll directly at the corner but in today's image it's off center. The fact the B&W photo has a three storey building means that I had to leave a fair amount of sky in the newer picture too.
Even with these two characteristics taken into consideration, there's something unique about the old photo. The corner of the Reliable Furniture Company is nearly in the exact center of the image. Yet along 6th Street, the windows are in sets of three. This combined with the higher roof angle makes it appear much shorter than the Carnarvon street side. As the pole is pretty much in the center, this seems to be an optical illusion of sorts. That's something I cannot reproduce with the present structure. Today the building houses a part of the Simon Fraser Health Authority.
I tried walking to a very near intersection to have another go at this. I found it a bit hard to make the two images match. Of course, eighty-six years ago there was a different building at the NE corner of 6th and Carnarvon. In addition, in the original photo there was a telephone poll directly at the corner but in today's image it's off center. The fact the B&W photo has a three storey building means that I had to leave a fair amount of sky in the newer picture too.
Even with these two characteristics taken into consideration, there's something unique about the old photo. The corner of the Reliable Furniture Company is nearly in the exact center of the image. Yet along 6th Street, the windows are in sets of three. This combined with the higher roof angle makes it appear much shorter than the Carnarvon street side. As the pole is pretty much in the center, this seems to be an optical illusion of sorts. That's something I cannot reproduce with the present structure. Today the building houses a part of the Simon Fraser Health Authority.
Labels: New Westminster, Q3_2008, Then and Now Images
Friday, August 15, 2008
Grin and Bare It
It's a bit too hot today but you're not going to hear any complaints from me. At nearly 80F, Vancouverites get sweaty. It gets much cooler at night though.
Yesterday, I couldn't resist the warm breezes and blue skies. I got out even if only on a local walk. The first part of the trip going east along Front Street was scary as there's no place for pedestrians. I had to fight for the right to walk with big trucks and a kilometer-long train. Once down to Sapperton Park, it was pleasant. I walked back, trying to go through Fraserview. The roads in that residential area are deliberately designed to keep out all but residents. By coming back up through the Woodlands site, I now understand how the bicycle route will meet up with the path which is being created through downtown New Westminster's Columbia Street.
It was hot and my face got a little sunburned.
Yesterday, I couldn't resist the warm breezes and blue skies. I got out even if only on a local walk. The first part of the trip going east along Front Street was scary as there's no place for pedestrians. I had to fight for the right to walk with big trucks and a kilometer-long train. Once down to Sapperton Park, it was pleasant. I walked back, trying to go through Fraserview. The roads in that residential area are deliberately designed to keep out all but residents. By coming back up through the Woodlands site, I now understand how the bicycle route will meet up with the path which is being created through downtown New Westminster's Columbia Street.
It was hot and my face got a little sunburned.
Labels: Columbia Street, Fraser River, New Westminster, Q3_2008, weather
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
An e-Journal-ish Type of Entry
I had finished up correcting the final exams by 9:00am. It was so easy to add them to the online grade book and then push the final mark results for approval. There was a time when this procedure would've meant printing off a spreadsheet, filling in a triplicate form, and driving into campus to hand the resulting paperwork to an administrative assistant.
I'm happy when technology makes things easier. In fact, I refuse to accept new procedures that make things harder or which are more intrusive. For example, at work I don't even know how to stop my telephone message indicator from blinking. To me voicemail is a tremendous hassle and so I refuse to participate. I find it much simpler to maintain a cell phone that's primarily for work related issues. It offers me the chance to accept calls at my convenience. It allows students to make better and more useful contact. If a student is stuck in traffic, I will expect a short call before class. At BCIT attendance and punctuality are as important as they are in the workplace.
So, I had all work out of the way relatively early today. Phew, it's a scorcher. Yes, I do tend toward hyperbole. It's probably about 28C (82F) which is a lot for this area! It was a rather nice day to do a few uptown errands. I even picked up a can of Turtle Wax car polish as I have not yet waxed the truck this year. I do it annually.
I'm happy when technology makes things easier. In fact, I refuse to accept new procedures that make things harder or which are more intrusive. For example, at work I don't even know how to stop my telephone message indicator from blinking. To me voicemail is a tremendous hassle and so I refuse to participate. I find it much simpler to maintain a cell phone that's primarily for work related issues. It offers me the chance to accept calls at my convenience. It allows students to make better and more useful contact. If a student is stuck in traffic, I will expect a short call before class. At BCIT attendance and punctuality are as important as they are in the workplace.So, I had all work out of the way relatively early today. Phew, it's a scorcher. Yes, I do tend toward hyperbole. It's probably about 28C (82F) which is a lot for this area! It was a rather nice day to do a few uptown errands. I even picked up a can of Turtle Wax car polish as I have not yet waxed the truck this year. I do it annually.
Labels: BCIT, errands, New Westminster, Q3_2008, relaxing, technology
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Columbia Street: 1932 and 2008
Okay, I've invented a new hobby. First, I'll find a photo on the New Westminster Public Library's Historical Photo Database. Then, I'll see if I can find the location. Third, I'll try to shoot a digital image of the same scene. Lastly, I'll edit and post them.
Today, I walked down to the west end of Columbia. The city of New Westminster is in the midst of a project that has added angled, back-in parking and cut most of the street back to two lanes. I'm a bit disappointed in the lost opportunities to add a lot more green area and trees. We lost the chance to make Columbia Street a real showcase for street planning. Alas, it's a chance that won't be revisited for another twenty or thirty years.
I should probably admit Columbia Street already looks better than it ever has. I certainly favour the photo taken today over the one taken in 1932!
Labels: Columbia Street, New Westminster, Q3_2008, Then and Now Images
Saturday, July 19, 2008
FraserFest 2008
I think this is the nineteenth year of our annual summer celebration in New Westminster, BC. Things kicked off last night with opening ceremonies at the New Westminster Quay. Several stages were set up and each end of the boardwalk area had different musical performers. More people than I can ever remember seeing at the quay were walking around. The events continue today and tomorrow.
Small fireworks occurred last night. There's an encore presentation tonight. The barge with all the gunpowder is pulled out onto the Fraser River. Whereas, we usually just watch from the balcony. Last night, we spent an hour down at the quay. The show looked more impressive from beneath the explosions.
Labels: Fraser River, New Westminster, Q3_2008, Quay
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Being a Part of It
Of all the places to live in the Lower Mainland, I am happy to be a resident of New Westminster. Oh, there are a million places around Metro-Vancouver where it'd be nice to hang one's hat. Yet, New Westminster is a nice fit for us.
We could probably afford a shoebox-sized room in Yaletown, or an aging apartment in the West End. I get a sense though that both are full of people who are a little myopic. New Westminster seems a little less segregated and privileged; it's connection to reality a bit more intense.
My feelings are not simply for certain physical real estate. The attachment is probably much more emotional in nature. For example, it is not really due to the fact we sit near the geographic center of the region and are easily connected by transit. My love of this city really doesn't have to do with its amenities nor the proximity to any particular facilities.
New Westminster just feels real with a palpable history. It's a good place to call home. It is smaller in size and population when compared to most cities surrounding it. That makes it easy to feel a part of. We're definitely residents of New West. To prove the point, it sure seems to us as though last weekend's Show & Shine antique car show and this weekend's Fraserfest are really ours.
We could probably afford a shoebox-sized room in Yaletown, or an aging apartment in the West End. I get a sense though that both are full of people who are a little myopic. New Westminster seems a little less segregated and privileged; it's connection to reality a bit more intense.
My feelings are not simply for certain physical real estate. The attachment is probably much more emotional in nature. For example, it is not really due to the fact we sit near the geographic center of the region and are easily connected by transit. My love of this city really doesn't have to do with its amenities nor the proximity to any particular facilities.
New Westminster just feels real with a palpable history. It's a good place to call home. It is smaller in size and population when compared to most cities surrounding it. That makes it easy to feel a part of. We're definitely residents of New West. To prove the point, it sure seems to us as though last weekend's Show & Shine antique car show and this weekend's Fraserfest are really ours.
Labels: feelings, New Westminster, Q3_2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Roses and a Banana Tree
A big advantage of writing just a paragraph or two a day over a long time is that I don't have to apologize for repeating myself. Yet, even though organization skills aren't necessary, anything added helps form a large data base of my ideas.
More than three years ago I once wrote about non-native plants growing here. Many things not generally associated with this latitude will take root.
Today, I was prompted to continue this topic. We went up to see the Rose Garden in Queen's Park. Considering the small size of New Westminster, having such a large, centrally-located green space is a blessing of history. The roses were fine but I found something else just as interesting.
I enjoyed seeing the banana tree!
More than three years ago I once wrote about non-native plants growing here. Many things not generally associated with this latitude will take root.
Today, I was prompted to continue this topic. We went up to see the Rose Garden in Queen's Park. Considering the small size of New Westminster, having such a large, centrally-located green space is a blessing of history. The roses were fine but I found something else just as interesting.
I enjoyed seeing the banana tree!Labels: flora and fauna, New Westminster, Q2_2008, Queen's Park
Thursday, June 26, 2008
A Dozen Years to the Day
Twelve years ago, the Cathay Pacific flight landed at YVR. We had flown from Dubai and connected through the old Hong Kong airport. Then, a Pacific Ocean later, we disembarked in our new country. That was June 26, 1996.
Being ever the explorers, we'd not made too many arrangements before arriving in the new land. Little did we know that within ten days we'd be renting an apartment in a place called New Westminster.
This was the view from our first Canadian balcony. Nowadays, three new towers are being built around the New Westminster SkyTrain station and will probably block the view of the river we had. This photo was very well taken before our shipping cargo had arrived, so chances are we were cooking in a few new pans, sitting on the floor, and listening to a radio for entertainment.
Being ever the explorers, we'd not made too many arrangements before arriving in the new land. Little did we know that within ten days we'd be renting an apartment in a place called New Westminster.
This was the view from our first Canadian balcony. Nowadays, three new towers are being built around the New Westminster SkyTrain station and will probably block the view of the river we had. This photo was very well taken before our shipping cargo had arrived, so chances are we were cooking in a few new pans, sitting on the floor, and listening to a radio for entertainment.
Labels: Immigrating to Canada, New Westminster, Q2_2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
A Little Late in Coming
I didn't have to work this month. Ordinarily that would leave me deliriously happy. Yet, as I look back over the last weeks, I didn't find them very pleasurable. Yesterday, I realized why. Finally, it was a fine day.
The weather has been pretty awful this month. Psychologically I felt as if summer were coming, but in actuality it seemed like a February. In this place that means it was cold, damp, and overcast. I still have all the winter blankets on the bed. I very well could have been running the gas fireplace during the evenings even though I resisted the temptation. We have seen weather reports showing hot conditions elsewhere, yet they've been no where to be seen. In fact, the snow pack on the mountains has not even managed to melt as it should during a normal year.
Perhaps the weather changed from the first official day of it. Last weekend was okay and yesterday I actually went out without a jacket. I feel better but may get a call that I have to teach a one month class starting next Monday. Why'd this weather get here so late?
To add insult to injury, now the days have started getting shorter!
Labels: New Westminster, Q2_2008, weather
Monday, June 16, 2008
A Perfect Day to be Free
I do seem to be adding quite a number of 'clips' and 'mash ups' lately, don't I? I just wanted to add something which shows I was out and about today. (No, I don't say a-boot!)
The sky is wonderful and that makes me feel great. I guess an advantage of having crappy weather is when it stops, it feels so good! The sky really is marvelous when there aren't clouds. Just the weather of yesterday and today has erased the memory of the awful, practically non-existent, spring. Crowds were out yesterday but it was Sunday. Crowds seem to be out today and I don't think they're just taking a long lunch break. Some people may have called in sick.
The New Westminster Quay was beautiful and the babies in strollers, pooches on leashes, and couples in tow seemed to prove it. On the way back I peered into the hole where the old Windsor Hotel used to be. I can hear the pile driving from the apartment although it's three blocks away. I am happy to see downtown booming. The nineteen storey building that's going in there may block my balcony view of the Quay though.
Labels: feelings, New Westminster, Q2_2008, weather
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Old Ironside
Okay, it's a little weird that I can sit at my computer and conveniently watch forty-year old television. I am not so sure that in 1968, when I was nine, I would've been keen on watching the pilot episode of Ironside. I'm not even sure we had a colour TV that year in Wendell, New Hampshire.
Strangely, I'm now living in the Canadian city which is the birthplace of actor, Raymond Burr. I can view on-demand episodes of Ironside on my 19 inch monitor right here. Just as interestingly, I can blog about these facts and the result is, in theory, visible from any location on the planet which has the Internet. I can even let you see it too.
If you're not in the US, try loading Hotspot Shield first. The program allows you to VPN to a US-based IP. It is easy to start and stop and a whole lot easier than messing around with permanent configuration on your computer. You only need to run it when you need to appear to be in the United States.
Strangely, I'm now living in the Canadian city which is the birthplace of actor, Raymond Burr. I can view on-demand episodes of Ironside on my 19 inch monitor right here. Just as interestingly, I can blog about these facts and the result is, in theory, visible from any location on the planet which has the Internet. I can even let you see it too.
If you're not in the US, try loading Hotspot Shield first. The program allows you to VPN to a US-based IP. It is easy to start and stop and a whole lot easier than messing around with permanent configuration on your computer. You only need to run it when you need to appear to be in the United States.
Labels: Hulu, Internet, New Westminster, Q2_2008, stars, television
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Newest Camcorder is the Lightest
On Saturday evening I brought the new camcorder to a get-together with friends. So, far I'm pretty impressed with the Panasonic HDC-SD9. The video quality can be quite stunning in bright light; however, it doesn't so very well in low-light conditions. Unfortunately that's a very common type of family-style video. I think our very first Sony camcorder in the 1980's did the best job of any subsequent cameras of being able to shoot excellent night scenes.
The ability to just pop out the SD card and directly insert into the PS3 is useful. The software that copies to a computer is also fairly easy to use even if it lacks a lot of necessary features. Over all, giving up tape has been a pleasant experience.
Its small size and ease of use means that this camera will probably get a lot more exercise than anything I've owned in the past. I have to be aware of this and think in terms of small video clips nowadays too. To help reflect this change in thinking, I have introduced the term camcorder as a blogging label. Viola, I get an instant new page to reflect current and past entries.
Even a clip which is less than 20 seconds can be interesting. This is simply a SkyTrain entering the east end of the tunnel into Columbia Station in downtown New Westminster.
The ability to just pop out the SD card and directly insert into the PS3 is useful. The software that copies to a computer is also fairly easy to use even if it lacks a lot of necessary features. Over all, giving up tape has been a pleasant experience.
Its small size and ease of use means that this camera will probably get a lot more exercise than anything I've owned in the past. I have to be aware of this and think in terms of small video clips nowadays too. To help reflect this change in thinking, I have introduced the term camcorder as a blogging label. Viola, I get an instant new page to reflect current and past entries.
Even a clip which is less than 20 seconds can be interesting. This is simply a SkyTrain entering the east end of the tunnel into Columbia Station in downtown New Westminster.
Labels: camcorder, New Westminster, Q2_2008, review, SkyTrain
Monday, June 02, 2008
The Joys of June
Well, one joy surely doesn't happen to be the weather this year. I lit the fireplace last night and it's still running. It's cool and cloudy outside, so much so that I don't even want to walk uptown for a little exercise.Then there's another unfortunate thing that always occurs during the beginning of June. I found only one envelope in the post today and it was the municipal tax bill. I went running to the place where we keep old copies just to see how much it'd risen. I found the original receipt from the first complete year in this apartment in 1999. Over the last nine years my local taxes have gone up about 24.5%. I suppose an increase of less than 2.75% per year is reasonable. Yet for comparison, I'd like to know similar information for the whole city. I am aware that there are a lot of factors at play. It'd also be useful to find out about the surrounding cites as well as across the province and country. I know, it's probably all online somewhere. You'd have to agree though, as a society, we surely enjoy talking more about sex than taxes.
Labels: money, New Westminster, Q2_2008
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Wonderful Weather
Friday, May 02, 2008
Lovin' the Llama
Unlike most days, I was struggling a little trying to think of what to blog about today. I thought I might mention something about the fact some friends are coming for dinner tomorrow. I thought it'd be easy to look for old digital photos of a former, similar engagement. I quickly found some taken exactly six years ago to the month. We walked around some of New Westminster that day. The photo above was taken on May 11, 2002 when we walked in Queen's Park. It sports a children's petting zoo each summer. The photo above was take there. I don't know who the child was, but he sure looks as if he enjoyed seeing the llama.
Labels: flora and fauna, New Westminster, Q2_2008, Queen's Park
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Being Too Settled Down
There was a time when I could mark the passage of it by where I had lived. Even today, it's easy for me to think of a year and the various places where I lived at the time. Let's take a random year, say 1995. I would be able to recall that the apartment was on the south side of Karama, Dubai. We moved from the other side of that area the previous year and left the UAE all together during the following one. I will do some mathematics. Between 1978 and 1998 I lived in at least 16 different places, including dorm rooms but excluding my family home.
So, I find it a tiny bit shocking that after actually buying this apartment, we've lived in it for ten years in a row. We moved in a decade ago come June. I've probably said things like this before, but I think that sounds scary. Ten years is such a big chunk of one's adult life. I'm beginning to understand how when staying in one place, time seems to all blend into one big blob.
So, I find it a tiny bit shocking that after actually buying this apartment, we've lived in it for ten years in a row. We moved in a decade ago come June. I've probably said things like this before, but I think that sounds scary. Ten years is such a big chunk of one's adult life. I'm beginning to understand how when staying in one place, time seems to all blend into one big blob.
Labels: Fraser River, New Westminster, Q2_2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Being in the Loop
I just jotted out this short email to our best, little local paper, New Westminster's The Royal City Record. I did so as I may have seen the first evidence of street work at the west end of Columbia Street. The city initiated back-in parking last summer and I believe that some actual street improvements are now beginning.Dear Editor:
As a downtown resident, I see that renovation work has begun on Columbia Street by city engineering.
The New Westminster City website has only an old bit of the initial planning information about the Columbia Street Improvement Project. It has not been updated. I don't know what options were eventually chosen. I don't know for example whether there will be plants in a median strip during any portion. I don't know if any public art is planned.
I would think that an article ... perhaps a front page article ... on the project is due. I, for one, would like to see what is taking place this summer along "the heart of the city".
I look forward to hearing back from you about whether you will be able to have a writer investigate this important story.
-- Dennis Hurd
Labels: Columbia Street, New Westminster, Q2_2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
In Our Fair City
Go ahead. Think of something of which you have 4,300. Stumped?
I was out on a walk and decided to take an image of the downtown New Westminster parkade. It's a rather ugly structure that was built in the 1960's to allow parking for downtown shopping. After New Westminster's miracle mile fell into disarray, decades ago, it has solemnly and resolutely kept sunshine off Front Street which it covers. Downtown, after years of neglect, is recovering some of its former glory by attracting new residents in a multitude of towers being built. The parkade still doesn't do much at all. Though it must be said that things which become familiar tend to loose any perceived ugliness. I know the parkade has sort of grown on me.
Here is a slide-show with 37 photos of it. By the way, in answer to my own question at the top of this entry, the photo made my four thousand three hundredth image on Flickr.
I was out on a walk and decided to take an image of the downtown New Westminster parkade. It's a rather ugly structure that was built in the 1960's to allow parking for downtown shopping. After New Westminster's miracle mile fell into disarray, decades ago, it has solemnly and resolutely kept sunshine off Front Street which it covers. Downtown, after years of neglect, is recovering some of its former glory by attracting new residents in a multitude of towers being built. The parkade still doesn't do much at all. Though it must be said that things which become familiar tend to loose any perceived ugliness. I know the parkade has sort of grown on me.
Here is a slide-show with 37 photos of it. By the way, in answer to my own question at the top of this entry, the photo made my four thousand three hundredth image on Flickr.
Labels: Flickr, New Westminster, Q2_2008
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Near Gridlock
It took a long time to get home after class finished at 5 o'clock this evening. I was planning to take Canada Way all the way into downtown New Westminster. It's called Eighth Street in our city's limits. I got into uptown and found police preventing traffic from going anywhere near the high school. Other than keeping all traffic from travelling on the near roads, they were not directing or re-routing traffic. After turning onto a side screen and being stuck for fifteen minutes, I did a U-turn and nearly doubled my route by going back up to Edmonds and down Kingsway, which becomes Twelfth Street in town. When I was stuck in the lines, cars going in the other direction were facing similar problems. One guy in a small car next to me asked if I'd heard what happened. He said he'd heard others talking about a high-school shooting.
I got home in about an hour whereas it usually takes about twenty minutes. The scary thing is realizing the impossibility of an evacuation by automobile. In the movies, generally people get out of town after a disaster. I realize how it'd be necessary to just leave the vehicle in the street and attempt to escape on foot.
I was home too late to catch any information on the news. I had to look on the Internet. At the present moment it seems as if the school is under lock-down just because someone maintained that they had seen a gun man. I guess everyone is erring on the side of caution. Although that's not good news, it's a damn sight better than finding out people had actually died from gunshot wounds.
I got home in about an hour whereas it usually takes about twenty minutes. The scary thing is realizing the impossibility of an evacuation by automobile. In the movies, generally people get out of town after a disaster. I realize how it'd be necessary to just leave the vehicle in the street and attempt to escape on foot.
I was home too late to catch any information on the news. I had to look on the Internet. At the present moment it seems as if the school is under lock-down just because someone maintained that they had seen a gun man. I guess everyone is erring on the side of caution. Although that's not good news, it's a damn sight better than finding out people had actually died from gunshot wounds.
Labels: cars, New Westminster, Q2_2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
One Thousand Days
We tend to make big deals about numbers that end with a lot of zeros, don't we? The photo above marks the one thousandth daily picture. It seemed like a big deal; therefore the reason for self applause. In actuality, it's in no way more special than 998 or 999. It was taken when I was uptown today.
Back on on the first day of July in 2005, decided that as digital photos don't cost anything, I was going to snap one every day. I figured it be a photo journal of sorts of at least one thing I'd seen or done that day. When I vow to do something, I always try to keep my word. I did so I have.
Labels: Daily Picture Parade, Flickr, flora and fauna, New Westminster, Q1_2008, Royal City Mall
Monday, March 24, 2008
Now a Homebody?
From the time I was brought home from the hospital until the first year I went to college, I lived in the same house. Those eighteen years were the longest I was ever in one place.
After college, I went directly to work in various parts of the Middle East with a few educational breaks in the States. I stayed overseas from 1981 to 1996. During those fifteen years, I worked in five different countries and slept in at least 12 different apartments. After that, upon immigrating to Canada, I rented a place for two years.
It wasn't until 1998 that we bought an apartment in New Westminster, BC. It does indeed seem strange that come this summer, I'll have been in the same building for ten years. I can forsee no changes in where I'm living, unless we were to do something unusual like decide to take a year off and move to Halifax.
I live on the tenth floor of the taller tower to the left.
After college, I went directly to work in various parts of the Middle East with a few educational breaks in the States. I stayed overseas from 1981 to 1996. During those fifteen years, I worked in five different countries and slept in at least 12 different apartments. After that, upon immigrating to Canada, I rented a place for two years.
It wasn't until 1998 that we bought an apartment in New Westminster, BC. It does indeed seem strange that come this summer, I'll have been in the same building for ten years. I can forsee no changes in where I'm living, unless we were to do something unusual like decide to take a year off and move to Halifax.
I live on the tenth floor of the taller tower to the left.
Labels: feelings, New Westminster, Q1_2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Journal-ish-ness
I don't feel like saying much this afternoon. This picture I just took somehow strangely represents my feelings at the moment. The day is sort of gray as only days around here can be. I feel neither joyous or sad. However, I am warm, dry, clean, and well-fed. My current class takes the final examination tomorrow. So, I'm rather satisfied with the progress made by so many. Yet, saying the final goodbye always involves mixed emotions. In the back of my mind I am aware that I won't have a new class starting until April 8th. That, if anything, should sort of help form upward turns at the corners of my mouth, right?
Labels: feelings, New Westminster, Q1_2008, transit
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Too Much of a Good Thing?
My Flickr membership runs until the end of next year. What a bargain it is! It costs me $5 a month to host this web site which allows 200 megabytes of storage, I think. Flickr costs out to a bit more than $2 per month for unlimited uploading. A single file from my Kodak can be as large as 4 megabytes. We're talking big numbers here.
Now I'm lazy though. So far I've put only ten photos from last week's cruise. In fact, I still have vacation photos from Zürich, Switzerland in the fall that I haven't gotten around to upload.
One really can take pictures of anything nowadays at near zero cost. I can compare this to when I was a kid and taking each photo had an associated price tag even when developing B&W film on the stairway. (When the door was closed it was nearly the darkest place in the house.) I took two photos from the balcony today and one yesterday. They're on Flickr now. I don't know at what point quantity becomes overload.
To see a slide show of pictures taken from the balcony over the years, click on this example picture.
Now I'm lazy though. So far I've put only ten photos from last week's cruise. In fact, I still have vacation photos from Zürich, Switzerland in the fall that I haven't gotten around to upload.
One really can take pictures of anything nowadays at near zero cost. I can compare this to when I was a kid and taking each photo had an associated price tag even when developing B&W film on the stairway. (When the door was closed it was nearly the darkest place in the house.) I took two photos from the balcony today and one yesterday. They're on Flickr now. I don't know at what point quantity becomes overload.
To see a slide show of pictures taken from the balcony over the years, click on this example picture.
Labels: balcony, Flickr, Fraser River, hard disk, New Westminster, Q1_2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Transportation Nightmare: 3 cms
It doesn't snow enough around these parts for the cities in invest in highway snow-removal equipment. Consequently, on those few days a year when snow sticks, the roads are slick and quite dangerous. As I don't have snow tires on my truck, I only venture out on the highways after things melt.
This shows the bottom of Sixth Street in New Westminster. We wanted to buy vegetables, but we shop uptown at Kin's in the Royal City Mall. As Translink offers two for one rides on Sunday, we decided to take Jay's monthly pass and the bus. When it eventually came, it went over to Eighth and up. It seems beyond what you can see, on the upper part of the hill, several Translink buses had gone sideways.
We travelled back via 22nd Station and even the SkyTrain was recovering from switch problems due to this ice. Transportation becomes so difficult around here when a few centimeters of snow falls. Clearly, here's another reason why the rest of Canada can snicker at the west coast.
This shows the bottom of Sixth Street in New Westminster. We wanted to buy vegetables, but we shop uptown at Kin's in the Royal City Mall. As Translink offers two for one rides on Sunday, we decided to take Jay's monthly pass and the bus. When it eventually came, it went over to Eighth and up. It seems beyond what you can see, on the upper part of the hill, several Translink buses had gone sideways.
We travelled back via 22nd Station and even the SkyTrain was recovering from switch problems due to this ice. Transportation becomes so difficult around here when a few centimeters of snow falls. Clearly, here's another reason why the rest of Canada can snicker at the west coast.
Labels: New Westminster, Q1_2008, weather
Friday, January 04, 2008
Getting Off the Sofa
There must be something about having fifty staring one in the face that makes a guy a little more health conscience. Well, the big five-oh doesn't really threaten for another year and a half, but it's only recently that I've taken any sort of interest in my physical health. I guess when one is in one's twenties or thirties, it'd be a waste of time considering such details. In fact, I used to be of the opinion that a human heart only had so many beats in it. I surely wasn't about to waste any of mine on frivolous exercise.
Now that I'm only half way through losing fifty pounds of excess weight, I can see the importance of burning a few calories as well as just consuming fewer. I am still not one who's going to step inside a gym anytime soon. Yet, I have taken to walking a bit.
In this city, just walking uptown is cardio lite. It makes all the more sense now that I pack some useful podcasts into my Zen and grab my camera. The podcasts keep my brain involved in learning about new topics. My camera forces me to really pay attention to my surroundings. Finding something to shoot inside the ordinary and familiar keeps me involved in looking at the form, colour, and composition. The results can be pleasing but as I tell my classes, "It's the process, not the product, that really counts."
Now that I'm only half way through losing fifty pounds of excess weight, I can see the importance of burning a few calories as well as just consuming fewer. I am still not one who's going to step inside a gym anytime soon. Yet, I have taken to walking a bit.
In this city, just walking uptown is cardio lite. It makes all the more sense now that I pack some useful podcasts into my Zen and grab my camera. The podcasts keep my brain involved in learning about new topics. My camera forces me to really pay attention to my surroundings. Finding something to shoot inside the ordinary and familiar keeps me involved in looking at the form, colour, and composition. The results can be pleasing but as I tell my classes, "It's the process, not the product, that really counts."
Labels: New Westminster, opinions, Q1_2008, weight loss
Monday, December 31, 2007
From New Westminster, British Columbia
Thursday, December 27, 2007
New Westminster in 700 Images
This image was taken from my balcony late yesterday afternoon. It marks the 700th digital image of my city that I've uploaded to Flickr. The collection spans nearly five years and three different cameras. They are arranged from the most recent to the earliest. The main focus is probably on downtown as that's the part of town where I live.
If you click on the photograph above, you will start a slide show of these images. Should that fail to be enough to satisfy your curiosity about New Westminster, you many also check out a special group I created that contains contributions from other local Flickr users. Athough my photos represent a fair number of those, the total now stands at over 1400. They were uploaded by close to 80 unique contributors.
Labels: balcony, digital camera, Flickr, Fraser River, New Westminster, Q4_2007
Monday, December 10, 2007
Eliminating Stress
Well it's Monday evening, so I've started this entry from the BCIT computer lab. I'm with some students enrolled in COMM 0031 which is a course for practicing oral communications. Thankfully, we're in the lab. I can make use of special listening software here. I can also have the students practice recording answers on the computers. This is handy as they'll be officially taking the BCIT Spoken English Assessment right here on Wednesday. This will give the chance to practice with the microphone and headphones.
Earlier today, I corrected all the final examinations from my weekend course. It feels really good to speak about both the intensive COMM 0004 courses in past tense now. During November, I felt quite a bit of stress dealing with forty students at the same time and it surely provided me with a lot of correction.
I can't help but think how great my job is though. I really appreciate the project-like environment of taking on individual contracts. There is clear definition of the beginning, middle, and end to each course. I take preparation for my classes very seriously. I keep a very friendly environment in the classroom but I do accumulate a fair amount of stress doing the housekeeping end of things. So stress builds but then completely dissipates. For example, tomorrow I have absolutely no appointments. Better yet, there're no assignments to be corrected nor planning to be done.
I need lots of down time and some has finally come to visit. I look forward to walking around town with a camera. I did manage a one-hour walk to the Quay today.
Earlier today, I corrected all the final examinations from my weekend course. It feels really good to speak about both the intensive COMM 0004 courses in past tense now. During November, I felt quite a bit of stress dealing with forty students at the same time and it surely provided me with a lot of correction.
I can't help but think how great my job is though. I really appreciate the project-like environment of taking on individual contracts. There is clear definition of the beginning, middle, and end to each course. I take preparation for my classes very seriously. I keep a very friendly environment in the classroom but I do accumulate a fair amount of stress doing the housekeeping end of things. So stress builds but then completely dissipates. For example, tomorrow I have absolutely no appointments. Better yet, there're no assignments to be corrected nor planning to be done.
I need lots of down time and some has finally come to visit. I look forward to walking around town with a camera. I did manage a one-hour walk to the Quay today.
Labels: BCIT, feelings, New Westminster, Q4_2007
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Please Gamble!
The more money people throw into the slots, the more it keeps my taxes in check. Our municipal government benefits from a percentage of the take. As a downtown resident of New Westminster, the Royal City Star has become a part of our daily existence. Even from the living room, we can look over the balcony and see the floating casino. Because of this, it is in many pictures on my Flickr account.
We've known for quite a while it'll be leaving. The gaming license will be moved to a brand-new facility in Queensborough in our fair city. When at the Walmart today, we drove another half mile up the road to see how things are coming along on the Starlight Casino. It looks like there's still quite a bit to be done before this week's soft opening.
We've known for quite a while it'll be leaving. The gaming license will be moved to a brand-new facility in Queensborough in our fair city. When at the Walmart today, we drove another half mile up the road to see how things are coming along on the Starlight Casino. It looks like there's still quite a bit to be done before this week's soft opening.
Labels: money, New Westminster, Q4_2007
Thursday, December 06, 2007
A Natural Treadmill
When a nice winter day comes along in Metro-Vancouver, one can't help but appreciate it. The sky was such a deep blue that if seen in a sci-fi movie, it'd be panned for being unrealistic. It was a perfect day to be off. I'm still losing weight and I know that exercise proves useful. Actually though, I've been relying on a reduction of calories to shed about a kilogram a month since October of 1996. Just getting out of the house in New Westminster can be a healthy plus. If I walk uptown, it's only about a mile but the incline helps make it feel as if it were a workout.
Today, I walked up 4th and back via 7th Streets. The path took me straight through some lovely neighbourhoods. I always enjoy seeing all the houses between Royal and 6th Avenue and there's such a variety! Knowing that I'll never be an owner of a single-family dwelling isn't sad. I really can't imagine anything other than life in a condo building. Still, seeing all the shapes and designs makes me smile. There's something nice about looking at real estate, even if it's already owned by others.
You too can take a look at some other New Westminster dwellings by visiting a slideshow from my Flickr account. It may take a second or two to load.
Labels: Flickr, New Westminster, Q4_2007, weight loss
Sunday, November 18, 2007
You Show Me Yours
On the way home from BCIT this evening, I snapped a picture while uptown. Over the years, I've taken lots of pictures around New Westminster.
For example, this picture shows the New Westminster City Hall. It's a rather plain, 50-year old building, but I like it. There are many things I like about living in New Westminster, BC. It's centrally located in what used to be called the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD). As of this year, that loose association of twenty-one municipalities, has become Metro-Vancouver. New West. is also small enough so that we actually feel like a part of it rather than just anonymous residents.
My city is historically important to British Columbia, but I've said all that before. I simply wanted to point out today, that other people have been willing to help show off the city. I created New Westminster, BC (The Royal City) on Flickr. Over seventy other people have joined and now there are over 1370 shots from around town. Come take a look around, even if you can get here in person.
For example, this picture shows the New Westminster City Hall. It's a rather plain, 50-year old building, but I like it. There are many things I like about living in New Westminster, BC. It's centrally located in what used to be called the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD). As of this year, that loose association of twenty-one municipalities, has become Metro-Vancouver. New West. is also small enough so that we actually feel like a part of it rather than just anonymous residents.
My city is historically important to British Columbia, but I've said all that before. I simply wanted to point out today, that other people have been willing to help show off the city. I created New Westminster, BC (The Royal City) on Flickr. Over seventy other people have joined and now there are over 1370 shots from around town. Come take a look around, even if you can get here in person.
Labels: Flickr, New Westminster, Q4_2007
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Climate Change
Unlike today, the weather was superb yesterday. It was clear and warm. The photo shows my building as photographed from the New Westminster City Hall. Mt. Baker lies about 60 miles away in Washington State.
I experience the, often profound, affects of living in a place where the weather can be bipolar. When the sun is out, I have the overriding feeling that I've got to get outside. It's as if I don't want to waste any of limited times of nice weather. This is followed by overwhelming guilt if I fail to walk around in the sunshine. In the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, seeing the sun is such a precious gift for about two thirds of each year!
I experience the, often profound, affects of living in a place where the weather can be bipolar. When the sun is out, I have the overriding feeling that I've got to get outside. It's as if I don't want to waste any of limited times of nice weather. This is followed by overwhelming guilt if I fail to walk around in the sunshine. In the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, seeing the sun is such a precious gift for about two thirds of each year!
Labels: mountains, New Westminster, Q4_2007, weather
Friday, September 07, 2007
Pulled from the Collection
I need to make an additional entry today to do a little further testing. I found a cool plug in for Writer called Flickr4Writer. It allows easy inclusion of a Flickr image into a post. As a trial, I'll post a photo taken from Hyack Square in downtown New Westminster. Eighth Street runs up the hill.
The term Web 2.0 apps is a rather well-worn concept by now but it may be unfamiliar to readers of this post. Briefly, a Web 2.0 site contains user generated information that can be re-used across different sites. Using Flickr and Blogger together is an example. Being able to drop a YouTube video here would be too.
The thing I like about this shiny Windows Live Writer is that it sort of covers up all the 'mechanics' under a common interface. One might not need to know what's going on 'under the hood', so to speak. I cannot help but see this as a future trend . . . (by Microsoft?)
Labels: blogging, Flickr, New Westminster, Q3_2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
New Westminster's Ups and Downs
In today's paper I read the sorry statistics about the lack of exercise that many of us get. It's true, I feel much better after tearing myself off the sofa or away from this office chair.The thing is the study said that a fair proportion didn't even get the equivalent of a half hour of walking per day. Okay, my flabby arm is raised! Well, sometimes. Lately, I've taken to often walking uptown. It is only about a kilometer and a half but there's quite a substantial rise in elevation.
So as a downtown resident of New Westminster, I find a dose of extra cardio is pretty much built into any walk taken here. Luckily the increased heart beat is on the first leg of the journey as gravity helps out during the return trip.
I feel so much better after getting out. I did today. The picture to the right is Douglas College. I took the picture from the opposite side of 8th Street when walking down the hill from the library. Pretty soon lots of out-of-shape students will be walking the hill from the New Westminster SkyTrain Station up those steps.
After getting into a more healthy routine, I think I must make some sort of pledge. I have to promise myself that I'll always walk if I want to eat fast food. Doesn't walking less than a mile for a Whopper or Big Mac negate the unhealthy aspects of the meal?
Labels: New Westminster, Q3_2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Easily-Embedded Maps
There's no place like home. Google seldom stops developing and refining!
Labels: Google, Internet, New Westminster, Q3_2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Five By Fourteen Feet
It'd seem very strange to live in an unattached, single-family dwelling. We really are condo people. As mentioned here plenty of times, we're also resolute New Westminster residents. Apparently others agree as there are hundreds of new apartments being built within a kilometer.
I don't want to sound like one of those people who always comments that time flies, but it does. We've lived on the 10th floor in this building for nine years now. That has afforded many opportunities for me to snap pictures from the balcony. In fact my Daily Picture Parade probably has its share on those days I forgot to get a photo elsewhere.
The following photo was taken from the balcony during the Fraserfest fireworks display last night. To see fifty other photos from or of the balcony, look on Flickr.
I don't want to sound like one of those people who always comments that time flies, but it does. We've lived on the 10th floor in this building for nine years now. That has afforded many opportunities for me to snap pictures from the balcony. In fact my Daily Picture Parade probably has its share on those days I forgot to get a photo elsewhere.
The following photo was taken from the balcony during the Fraserfest fireworks display last night. To see fifty other photos from or of the balcony, look on Flickr.
Labels: balcony, Daily Picture Parade, fireworks, Flickr, Fraser River, New Westminster, Q3_2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Better Than Average
Statistics Canada released a rash of demographic data yesterday which was picked up by most of the press. Buried in the data was news of a greying population. At the moment however, I have a commanding lead:
Last weekend, there were other old things at the Show & Shine
on Columbia Street in New Westminster, BC.
Canada now has a record 4.3 million seniors, increased life expectancy and a declining birth rate.
The country's median age -- the point where half the population is young and half older -- has soared to an all-time high of 39.5 years. That number was 38.8 last year.
Last weekend, there were other old things at the Show & Shine
on Columbia Street in New Westminster, BC.
Labels: cars, New Westminster, Q3_2007
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Floating Past
Tonight, I would sit on the balcony and watch the occasional tree trunk float past, but it's too cool outside. For months we've known the rivers here would eventually flood. The snow pack during the winter reached record levels. There should be no surprise that as it melts, the majority runs towards the ocean.
The mighty Fraser River cuts through 1,400 kilometers of British Columbia. It also runs right by where we live. By the time the Fraser gets to New Westminster though, it's pretty much tamed and channeled by dikes and other containment. Also, even the basement of this building is many meters above the maximum crest possible and we're on the tenth floor.
Even though my feet have little chance of getting wet, it's interesting keeping up with the developments of the flood watch. Oops, there goes another one-hundred foot tree floating by ...
The mighty Fraser River cuts through 1,400 kilometers of British Columbia. It also runs right by where we live. By the time the Fraser gets to New Westminster though, it's pretty much tamed and channeled by dikes and other containment. Also, even the basement of this building is many meters above the maximum crest possible and we're on the tenth floor.
Even though my feet have little chance of getting wet, it's interesting keeping up with the developments of the flood watch. Oops, there goes another one-hundred foot tree floating by ...
Labels: Fraser River, New Westminster, Q2_2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
It's Almost June
There's hardly a thing that feels better: I'm sitting with my notebook on my lap in the recliner and the balcony sliding door is wide open.
I have been very aware of spring's arrival this year. I charted the progress by what I had to wear when going out the door. The thick jacket changed to a thinner one several weeks ago. Then a week or so back, the jacket stayed in the closet. For a few days, I wore both a t-shirt and a short-sleeved shirt. Last week, I once skipped the t-shirt. Although, I've not left the house without any shirt, it promises to be that type of weather tomorrow.
It was so nice today, it's ironic, if not a little criminal, that I taught in a windowless classroom all afternoon. On the way home, however, as if a sign of consolation, I was aware of the many birds singing in the trees. I was driving with the side window down. I sort of wonder why they're all so silent all winter. They truly seemed happy and that made me feel the same way.
Everything looks better with a little green to cover up things around
the edges.
I have been very aware of spring's arrival this year. I charted the progress by what I had to wear when going out the door. The thick jacket changed to a thinner one several weeks ago. Then a week or so back, the jacket stayed in the closet. For a few days, I wore both a t-shirt and a short-sleeved shirt. Last week, I once skipped the t-shirt. Although, I've not left the house without any shirt, it promises to be that type of weather tomorrow.
It was so nice today, it's ironic, if not a little criminal, that I taught in a windowless classroom all afternoon. On the way home, however, as if a sign of consolation, I was aware of the many birds singing in the trees. I was driving with the side window down. I sort of wonder why they're all so silent all winter. They truly seemed happy and that made me feel the same way.
Everything looks better with a little green to cover up things around
the edges.
Labels: New Westminster, Q2_2007, SkyTrain, weather
Posted by: Dennis S Hurd / 7:21 PM 